Fleece is My Love Language

Here’s this week’s reflection. I hope it resonates with you and ask that, if you enjoyed, please comment and share on your social media. Heartfelt thanks for all your support!

Keeping the light on for you,

Carol

We’ve all heard the buzz and likely taken the online quiz regarding which of the five love languages we and our significant others most identify with. For those of you unfamiliar, the five actions presumably tripping our affection triggers in our relationships are: acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, and physical touch. In the spirit of a northern (read glacial) Valentine’s Day, I would like to offer a sixth language that nicely tosses a blanket atop the traditional five.

Fleece. 

Yes, you read that correctly and before your eyes roll, let me explain.

Up here in the Great White North, one state of being transcends all others – warmth. While I enjoy living in a region with four distinct seasons, snow and subzero temperatures just make my bones ache, even after 32 years. In this season, my family is forced to pry me out of the house. Clearly, my DNA seems to be missing the yearn-to-make-snow-angels gene since I much prefer to read in front of a crackling fire —and occasionally look outside— while cradling a warm beverage with my pink, as opposed to frostbitten white, fingertips. 

In fact, I would rather do anything indoors than go outside. Thermal undergarments and a potpourri of frigid fashion outerwear have been culled over the years but anything lower than twenty degrees gets my shiver goat every time, regardless of apparel warmth ratings boasting below-zero comfort. It should come as no surprise then, that a texture providing a deep wubbie factor ranks higher than food, water, or the need for connection with others. Enter the womb-like bliss of fleece.

Let me be very specific and tick some boxes to prove my point. 

Whenever Hubby brings me a fleece item when I am cold, it’s one incredibly large “act of service.” A gift of fleece always makes me smile and feel loved. “Quality time together” is made even better while sporting fleece (especially if it includes the outdoors). The family can spout “affirming things” about my fleece options: “Mom – you look fabulous in that chartreuse sherpa fleece! And what a great color on you!”, or “You look so happy wearing that!” 

I’ve even had folks pet me to experience the softness of my fleece and, while unconventional, it does qualify as “physical touch.” On a flight south one year I was wearing a luxuriously thick, aqua-hued fleece jacket. The flight attendant stopped to admire it and asked if she could touch it. She was polite and respectful, so I laughingly granted permission. She let out an “ooooh, that is SO nice, and such a beautiful color!” Words of affirmation AND physical touch. Need I say more?

In truth, when my husband and I took the love language quiz, “acts of service” was the way to win my heart and his: “spending quality time together.” So yes, our relationship goes much deeper than what we clothe ourselves with. And the other love triggers were not far behind for either of us, pointing to just how multifaceted most relationships really are, whether partner, family, or friendship. 

But in the interest of simplicity, for a world with an obsessive need to quantify everything, one wardrobe item – the silky fluff of polyester pile – helps me feel my best so I can be my best self for those I hold most dear. 

Hopefully your love language includes more than a cozy top layer. And if it doesn’t, I am here to share the warmth.

Happy Valentine’s Day!